Lymphocyte-suppressing action of simvastatin in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia

Background: no previous study examined whether statins affect lymphocyte cytokine release in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia. methods: the study included 46 patients with elevated triglyceride levels and peripheral artery stenosis,randomly assigned to receive simvastatin or placebo. plasma lipids,glucose homeostasis markers,plasma c-reactive protein and lymphocyte cytokine release were measured at baseline and at the end of the treatment. results: ninety-day simvastatin treatment reduced lymphocyte release of tnf-α,interleukin-2 and interferon-γ,which was accompanied by a decrease in plasma c-reactive protein. conclusion: the obtained results suggest that statins produce lymphocyte-suppressing and systemic anti-inflammatory effects in patients with isolated hypertriglyceridemia. copyright © 2013 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.